Fans across the country absolutely love its basic yet sleek design inside and out. Sales figures show a growing interest in the upcoming 2012 MAZDA2 – but will the love last?

Power for the upcoming 2012 variant is supplied by a 1.5-liter four-cylinder engine, producing 100 horsepower and 98 lb-ft of torque. This powerplant is matted to either a five-speed manual or four-speed automatic transmission (for an extra $800).

Another plus driving shoppers towards MAZDA is the 2′s available, customizable color schemes: “Brilliant Black Clearcoat, Liquid Silver, True Red, Crystal White Pearl, Aquatic Blue and Spirited Green.”

The best attention grabber from this front-wheel-drive vehicle is its superb MPG rating: 29 City, 35 Highway.

So, just how well is the new MAZDA2 doing? Let’s look at sales figures from just after the car’s release:

Jan 2011: 479 – Feb 2011: 870 – March 2011: 2,500!

As you can see, many youthful and cost-conscious shoppers are being won over by this small Mazda car. We expect to see many more driving off dealership lots in a “2″ very soon.

Source: Mazda247 & LeftLaneNews

The car just entered a production phase overseas, and its likability will be tested in the form of a leasing program available to residents of the country. Electric2 is just the beginning of a huge electric car fleet Mazda hopes to bring to us by 2014.

Electric2 is expected to have a max range of 124 miles per charge, and will first be leased in limited numbers to government entities and fleet buyers.

Mazda will use the program to develop its electric vehicle technologies. The company still claims its allegiance to the internal-combustion engine – they’ve made it clear it will continue to focus on developing fuel-saving technologies for its engines. For now, trials are limited to the Japanese market, serving mostly as a research project. Expect more information as the spring of 2012 launch date approaches.

Source: Mazda Electric2

The official announcement is a “15 percent better gas mileage than the existing model.” The Demio, better known as MAZDA2 in North America, goes on sale in Japan in the first half of 2011, though the US will not receive this upgraded version for a couple of years, seeing as the latest MAZDA2 just dropped over here. Its fuel economy numbers are 28 mpg city, 35 highway.

Mazda hopes to achieve this 15 percent raise through a wide-reaching technology reboot: engines, transmissions, vehicle bodies and chassis. This all goes under the label Skyactiv – Mazda’s catchy marketing name for these developments.

“Mazda is renewing its entire powertrain and platform lineup at the same time as revolutionizing every manufacturing process from R.&D. through to mass production,” said Takashi Yamanouchi, Mazda’s president and chief executive. “There have been no compromises in addressing conflicting goals. Instead, we have implemented a ‘breakthrough’ approach to technical innovation in all areas that has produced incredible, unexpected results.”

Source: The New York Times

It’s a banner-day for North America, as the Mazda2 – a staple of Mazda autos in Japan & Europe – is headed stateside. Mazda2 will make a somewhat-official debut in the US of A at the Los Angeles Auto show, but as announcement yesterday states that Mazda2 will be a for-sale vehicle by 2011. There were rumors for over a year about bringing the small city-car to the Birthplace of Apple Pie, now we can stop crossing our fingers. Good, they were beginning to cramp.

No official word on the US-spec 2 – it’s Japanese/Euro counterpart includes 1.3 and 1.5 liter gasoline/petrol engines as well as two diesels – a 1.2 and 1.6 liter. It was also voted World Car of the Year in 2008. “Bringing Mazda2 to North America completes the bookends in our lineup,” said Jim O’Sullivan, president and CEO of Mazda North America, in a press release.

2010 MAZDA3 – is that a vertical smile?

Nom indeed! The 2010 MAZDA3 dash is hungry!

MAZDA2 Rally – don’t dare call it four eyes!

Mazda’s MX-5 is happy to no longer be referred to as a Miata.

Mazda stole 2008 design awards thanks to their many Nagare concepts.

MAZDA5 is glad to be moving away from its Mazda MPV roots.

You’ll be privy to a remodeled grill, along with extended headlights and what looks like a much larger Mazda emblem…in case anyone you pass wonders “what the hell is that magnificent machine?!”

Also making several appearances lately are two different concept drawings of the (supposed) 2010 MAZDA3. Our first glimpse shows a 5-door sedan Nagare design with beautiful curves and a mean looking front end. MAZDA3′s rear is looking more and more like a Yaris every year. Actually, these renderings look more like an extended MAZDA2.

But that’s not the end of our MAZDA3 debate – some other 3 concept photos have appeared online, and these look more production worthy. You won’t have so many fanciful curves, instead there’s a more realistic approach to a 5-door sedan/wagon vehicle. It reminds Mazdapedia of the 5-door Protege of years past, and that makes us very happy. The vehicle should be unveiled officially during November’s Los Angeles Auto Show.

Standings:

Pure Tasmania Modern
1. McRae / Stewart
2. Buggee / Freame
3. Dunkley / Parker

Pure Tasmania Showroom 2WD
1. McRae / Stewart
2. Buggee / Freame
3. Dunkley / Parker

Congratulations to Team Mazda!

Mazda brings their Mazdaspeed3 to the 8th Annual Targa Tasmania Rally. A far cry from the Mazda2 Rally Edition shown previously on our site, The Mazda3 MPS (as it’s known down-unda’) will trounce through Tasmania’s outback from April 15th through the 20th, over 2000 kilometers! The excursion will be lead by drivers Rick Bates and Alister McRae, who have a lot to live up to after 2007′s successful run by Melinda Both and Samantha Stevens. Maybe a little battle of the sexes will rev-up participants’ engines. Good Luck Team Mazda!

Targa Tasmania Rally 2007

2008 Mazda3 Targa Rally Edition

Unlike other rally vehicles, Targa’s autos are equip with mostly stock parts inside and out.

Mazda Produces Over One Million Units in Japan in Fiscal Year 2007

- Production volume reaches highest level in 15 years -

HIROSHIMA, Japan—Mazda Motor Corporation has announced that domestic production in Japan during fiscal year 2007 has exceeded one million units. This marks Mazda’s highest domestic production volume in 15 years since 1992.

Masaharu Yamaki, senior managing executive officer in charge of production and business logistics, said, “We want to thank all of our valued customers across the globe who have supported Mazda and helped us break the previous 15 year-old production record. Producing over one million vehicles in Japan during the first year of our new mid-term plan, the Mazda Advancement Plan, is extremely significant. This achievement shows we are on track to reach the targets set out in the plan. We will strive to maintain this momentum and drive Mazda’s growth forward.”

Announced in March 2007, the Mazda Advancement Plan (MAP) includes business targets to be achieved in fiscal year 2010, namely: 1.6 million global retail sales, an operating profit over 200 billion yen, a return on sales (ROS) ratio of six percent, and a stable payout of dividends. In order to achieve these targets, Mazda will leverage its annual straight time production capacity in Japan, which is currently 996,000 units per year.

Mazda2 

CX-9 

Some of the highest selling models include the new Mazda2 (or Mazda Demio in Japan) and CX-9. Congratulations yet again goes out to Mazda Motor Corp. and all the Mazda Enthusiasts worldwide!